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With all the little earthquakes we’ve experienced in the Bay Area this week, it seems like Jim Harbaugh wanted to add some more earth-shaking to San Francisco.

In the first quarter, offensive lineman Joe Staley caught a pass for 18 yards, with about 12 of those yards coming from Staley’s run after the catch. Staley reported as a tight end and then went out for the pass after a handoff was faked and Alex Smith rolled to his left. Staley was wide open.

“I was kind of nervous,” Staley said. “I haven’t touched the ball since I was a senior in college, a tackle-elible play, and that went for minus-6 yards. That was the last time I caught a football in a game.”

Staley made an emphatic first-down signal after catching his pass that he said he worked on it at home. He also said he has a touchdown dance, but won’t unveil it unless he scores.

Staley started as a tight end at Central Michigan, and then was moved to to the offensive line. Apparently his family hated that move, but it’s worked out for Staley. He remains one of the highest paid linemen in the league.

But that wasn’t all Harbaugh had up his sleeve.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Niners called yet another pass play to a big man, this time to nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga who checked in as an eligible receiver. Sopoaga rumbled for 18 yards, putting San Francisco safely in field goal range. David Akers nailed a 26-yarder to put the 49ers up by a final score of 20-10.

“Catching a rugby (ball) that is big is really hard than catching a football,” said Sopoaga, who recorded his last reception in high school. “It was easy for me.”

That’s two passes to linemen — one offensive and one defensive, resulting in 36 yards and two first downs. While Staley has a background as a college tight end, Sopoaga knows how to handle the ball after playing rugby while growing up in American Somoa. Sopoaga is also a great athlete. He can throw a football about 70 yards and has a very natural throwing motion.